"Everything will repeat": Zaluzhnyi warns of primary danger following war's end

The Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi warned that the main danger after the end of the war lies in the repetition of historical mistakes. According to him, Ukraine will never be able to pursue a "non-anti-Russia" policy due to the scale of the losses suffered.

He stated this during a conversation with students, "Fabryka Novyn" reports.

Lessons of history: 1921 and 1991

Zaluzhnyi says that under the condition of victory or the conclusion of the war not by defeat, the key task for Ukrainian society will be to maintain a sober view of the neighbor.

"The most important thing is not to allow ourselves to be deceived again, as in 1921 or 1991, and believe that almost 2,600 km of the state border is a border with sincere friends. If we believe in this, everything will repeat," the diplomat emphasized.

Why the "Finnish scenario" is not for Ukraine

Answering a question regarding future relations with the RF, Zaluzhnyi cited the example of Finland, which for a long time adhered to a policy of respect for Russia as a "reliable neighbor." In the ambassador's opinion, Ukraine will never be able to take this path. He cited massive human losses, the geography of the tragedy, and the cyclical nature of aggression as the primary reasons.

"Ukraine will not be able to do this. Why? Because of the extraordinary nature of the people who live on our territory. These are huge losses that we have suffered: starting from the people who lived in Crimea and ending with those who lived in the west of Ukraine, in Zakarpattia, etc. I doubt that Ukraine will be able to live and conduct a "non-anti-Russia" policy, unfortunately. Perhaps someday, although for this one needs to carefully reread the history of Russia as well — it is also not very unambiguous. During the last 500 years, Russia voluntarily lost its territories and then returned them by force, and continued to do this for 500 years. The same thing over and over," he said.

Guarantees of the future

Valerii Zaluzhnyi expressed conviction that after victory, Ukraine must build a security system that will render any new "forcible return" of territories by Moscow impossible.

"Therefore, believe me, if this war ends and we survive — and I hope that we will survive and obtain our victory: obtain security, perspective, and live in our own home — we will never allow Russia to act in a way that it again returns to the forcible return of its territories... We must remember that we gave our lives not just to be free, but to live," he concluded.